The ending ofMetroid Dreadserves as a fitting culmination of a story more than 30 years in the making. After eradicating the initial threat posed by the Space Pirates' theft and weaponizing of the Metroid organism, Samus' journey of discovery and revenge is succinctly concluded inMetroid Dreadand leaves the door open for an interesting plot twist regarding the fate of the legendary bounty hunter.Now infected with Metroid DNA, the next game in the long-running sci-fi series could see the hunter become the hunted, replicating a controversial choice from another sci-fi franchise:Halo.
Following Bungie’s departure from Microsoft, 343 studios carved out a new identity for theHaloseries by taking Master Chief in a new direction inHalo 4and introducing what is now known as the Reclaimer Saga. WhileHalo 4was celebrated for both its narrative and gameplay, the next main entry was met with a mixed reception from fans.Halo 5was considered a step backwardsfromHalo 4mostly due to its handling of Master Chief, turning him into a rogue operative being hunted by the player. The choice was controversial forHalogiven what fans knew about Master Chief. For the nextMetroid, this narrative turn makes perfect sense.
RELATED:8 Video Game Heroes Who Have Done Terrible Things
Metroid’s Samus Has Always Operated On Her Own Terms
Despite being employed by the Galactic Federation, Samus is a bounty hunter who doesn’t need to abide by a particular code other than her own internal compass. Her choices as a protagonist have often been contrary to her directives issued by the Federation, showing that Samus isn’t afraid to bend or even break laws to do what’s best given the circumstances. A prime example of this is herchoice to save the last remaining Metroidlarva after being tasked with the systematic eradication of the entire species.
As someone who operates just outside the law as it’s defined in theMetroidseries, Samus already is a rogue bounty hunter that could be deemed too powerful and dangerous for the good of galactic civilizationfollowingMetroid Dread’s conclusion. Now that Samus' DNA is revealed to be the only existing hybrid of human and Metroid genetic code, she poses a significant threat to the peace and safety of the galaxy. Having the nextMetroidtitle be split between Samus and a new protagonist who is hunting her not only makes sense, but it could set up the next line ofMetroidtitles.
Several of the revelations set up by the narrative ofMetroid Dreadserve to fill in the gaps that existed in the 35-year-long saga of Samus and her mission to hunt the Metroids.BetweenMetroid Fusionand the latest gamein the series, Samus now knows her true origin and how the Metroids are connected to the Chozo. Further, her DNA has now been altered to the point that she is no longer fully Samus but instead a Metroid-Human hybrid as a result of her infection by the X-parasite. Playing as a new protagonist inHalo 5didn’t make sense because a new chapter to Master Chief’s saga had just begun, but Samus' journey has reached a natural and satisfying conclusion.
By opening the door for a new hero to become the player’s avatar in the nextMetroid, the series could continue for another 35 years and begin with a symbolic “passing of the torch” from Samus to the new protagonist. It’s not difficult toimagine a narrative in aMetroid Dreadsequelthat sees a new bounty hunter being tasked with tracking down and detaining Samus, only to realize there’s a greater threat at play and come to need her help as an unlikely ally and mentor. The nextMetroidis primed (pun intended) for the redemption of an interesting narrative conceit implemented in the wrong game.
Metroid Dreadis available now for the Nintendo Switch.
MORE:Metroid Dread DLC Could Build the Series' Future With a New Protagonist
